Shelf corner clamp

ABSTRACT

A corner clamp secures a shelf adjustably on an upright leg with the leg fitted into a notch in the corner of the shelf and the downward extending flange of the shelf. An outer bracket wraps around the outside of the leg and the shelf flange and has tabs extending inward through the shelf flange, and an inner bracket fits over the inside of the leg, extends along the inside of the shelf flange, and receives the tabs from the outer bracket in slots. Then bolts extending through the inner and outer brackets and the shelf flange draw the parts together, and the inner bracket is shaped to clear the inside of the shelf flange tensioning the parts securely together.

United States Patent Kohl Dec. 3, 1974 SHELF CORNER CLAMP Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette 75 I l h N.Y. l mentor Car 0 K0 l Hammondsport Attorney, Agent, or F1rm-Cumpston, Shaw & [73] Assignee: Mercury Aircraft, lnc., Stephens l-lammondsport, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Nov. 29, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. NO; 420,099 A corner clamp secures a shelf adjustably on an upright leg with the leg fitted into a notch in the corner of the shelf and the downward extending flange of the 2? g 108/144 108/156 248/188 shelf. An outer bracket wraps around the outside of the g and Shelf flange and has tabs extending 1 o t ward through the shelf flange, and an inner bracket 0 /231 211/182 fits over the inside of the leg, extends along the inside 56 R f of the shelf flange, and receives the tabs from the l 1 e erences outer bracket in slots. Then bolts extending through UNITED STATES PATENTS the inner and outer brackets and the shelf flange draw 1,467,505 9/1923 Schwaegler 108/156 the parts together, and the inner bracket is shaped to 3,204,905 9/1965 Marban 248/188 clear the inside of the shelf flange tensioning the parts 3,48 l ,486 12/1969 SqUiI'ES 108/106 securely together 3,747,540 7/1973 Salkoff et al 108/156 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SHELF CORNER CL THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT Shelves, countertops, table tops, and similar structures are often clamped or secured to upright legs, and many different clamps and brackets have been suggested for such connections. Clamps for securing such shelving and equivalent structures at variable heights on upright legs are widely demanded for food handling industries, furniture, and industrial uses, especially where vertical adjustability is required.

The invention involves recognition of a simpler and better way of making a shelf corner clamp that is economical, easy to install, simple to adjust vertically, and solid and secure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive shelf corner clamp secures the shelf adjustably to an upright support leg, and the shelf has a downwardly extending flange with the leg being fitted into a notch in the corner of the shelf and the flange and extending above and below the shelf. The flange has bolt holes and tab receiving slots on each side of the corner notch, and the tab receiving slots are further from the corner notch than the bolt holes. An outer bracket is shaped to wrap around the outside of the leg when the leg is in the corner notch and to extend over the outside of the flange beyond the flange bolt holes and to the tab receiving slots. The outer bracket has bolt holes registered with the flange bolt holes and has tabs extending inward through the tab receiving slots in the flange. An inner bracket is shaped to fit over a portion of the inside of the leg when the leg is in the corner notch, and the inner bracket extends along the inside of the flange beyond the flange bolt holes and beyond the tab receiving slots. The inner bracket has bolt holes registered with the flange bolt holes and the outer bracket bolt holes and has slots receiving the tabs of the outer bracket. A pair of bolts extend through the bolt holes in the flange in the inner and outer brackets for drawing the parts together, and the inner bracket is shaped to have a clearance from the inside of the flange in the region of each of the bolts so thattightening the bolts draws the inner and outer brackets and the leg and the shelf securely together.

DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 and 2 are partially cut-away, bottom views of a preferred embodiment of the inventive comer clamp respectively showing the clamp loosely assembled and tightened.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the clamp of FIG. 1 taken along the line 3 3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the corner clamp of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the notched shelf corner for receiving the inventive clamp; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view from inside a shelf assembly having the inventive corner clamp with one of the bolts removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION All the drawings are directed to the same preferred embodiment of the inventive corner clamp 10 as applied to a shelf 11 having a corner notch 12 receiving an upright leg 13. Shelf 12 has a downwardly extending flange 14 that is cut-away at corner notch 12 to receive leg 13, and the bottom of flange 14 has an inturned edge 15 that is shown as cut-away in the bottom views of FIGS. 1 and 2 for illustration of the invention. Shelf 11 is vertically adjustable on legs 13 and can be raised or lowered when clamp 10 is loosened and can be secured at any desired elevation by tightening clamp 10. Shelf 11 and leg 13 can be formed of stainless steel, other metals, and other materials, and can have shapes other than those illustrated. Also, clamp 10 can be applied not only to shelving, but to countertops, table tops, and equivalent structures mounted on vertical support legs.

Clamp 10 includes an outer bracket 16 that has a right angle or generally L-shape for wrapping around the outside of leg 13 and extending across the outside of flange 12. Bracket 16 is shaped to fit closely around the outside of leg 13, and can have different shapes for different cross-sectional shapes of leg 13 such as a curving corner shape to fit a circular cross-sectional shaped leg, or a multiangled corner to fit a leg having more than four sides. Flange 14 has bolt holes 17 and tab receiving slots 18 with tab slots 18 spaced farther from corner notch 12 than bolt holes 17. Outer bracket 16 extends over bolt holes 17 and reaches to tab slots 18, and bracket 16 has end tabs 19 extending inward through tab slots 18 in flanges 14. Tabs 19 preferably bend inward from the main body of outer bracket 16 at an angle slightly larger than 90 as best shown in FIG.

An inner bracket 20 has an approximately W-shape as illustrated to fit over a portion of the inside of leg 13 and extend along the inside of flange l4 beyond bolt holes 17 and tab slots 18. Inner bracket 20 has bolt holes 21.,registering with bolt holes 17 in flange l4, and has tab receiving slots 22 registering with tab receiving slots 18 in .flange 14. Bolt holes 21 are preferably oblong as best shown in FIG. 6 to allow transverse movement of inner bracket 21 relative to flange 14, and bolt holes in outer bracketv 16 preferably have a larger diameter than bolt holes 17 to allow some transverse movement of outer bracket 16 relative to flange 14.

In the region of tab receiving slot 22 in inner bracket 20 near the free ends of bracket 20, bracket 20 is preferably crowned or bent into a ridge 23 that engages the central region of tabs 19 at a distance from flange 14 as best shown in FIG. 3. Bracket 20 can have shapes other than a W-shape to fit different shapes of legs 13. For example, the central section of bracket 20 can be bent in an arc to fit a circular leg or bent into several angles to fit a leg having more than four sides. Bracket 20 is shaped to have a clearance from flange 14 in the region of bolts 25, nuts 26, and washers 27, that hold clamp 10 in a corner assembly.

Clamp 10 is shown loosely assembled in FIG. 1 and tightened to secure shelf 11 firmly in place in FIG. 2, and the differences between FIGS. 1 and 2 are slightly exaggerated to illustrate how clamp 10 operates. When bolts 25 are tightened, inner bracket 20 is drawn toward flanges 14 to reduce the clearance between bracket 20 and flange 14 in the region of bolts 25. This draws the free ends of inner bracket 20 toward corner notch 12 as bracket 20 bends under the tension applied by bolts 25. The slight inward motion of the free ends of inner bracket 20 is applied to tabs 19 where the ridges or crowns 23 of bracket 20 engage tabs 19. This bends tabs 19 slightly toward a 90 angle with the main body of outer bracket 16 and pulls bracket 16 inward tightly against leg 13 and flange 14 by effectively shortening the leg length of outer bracket 16 as tabs 19 are bent inward. The drawing in of outer bracket 16 forces leg 13 tightly into notch 12 while inner bracket 20 simultaneously grips the inside of leg 13 as the clearances between bracket 20 and flange 14 is reduced under the tension applied by bolts 25. Thus, in addition to trapping leg 13 tightly between inner bracket 20 and outer bracket 16, outer bracket 16 is drawn tightly inward toward flange 14 for lodging leg 13 tightly and securely in corner notch 12. Clamp 12 is then securely locked in place and shelf 11 is clamped tightly on leg 13 for a solid connection that is not wobbly or loose, and can support a heavy weight without sliding downward on leg 13.

Clamp 10 is easily loosened for vertical adjustment of shelf 11 by loosening bolts 25 which preferably have slotted heads for easy external access. Also, a simple tightening of bolts 25 fastens shelf 11 securely in place at any desired elevation. The inventive corner clamp 10 not only provides excellent security and rigidity, but also draws leg 13 firmly into corner notch 12, and does so with two simple brackets and bolts that are economically made, installed, and adjusted. Hence, the inventive corner clamp 10 is at least as strong and secure as any prior art corner clamp while improving on economy and ease of installation and adjustment.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate the different materials and constructions possible in fitting the inventive corner clamp to various leg and shelf type constructions.

I claim:

1. A shelf corner clamp for securing a shelf adjustably to an upright support leg, said shelf having a downward extending flange and said leg being fitted into a notch in said corner of said shelf and said flange and extending above and below said shelf, said shelf corner clamp comprising:

a. said flange having a bolt hole and a tab receiving slot on each side of said corner notch, said tab receiving slots being further from said corner notch then said bolt holes;

b. an outer bracket shaped to wrap around the outside of said leg when said leg is in said corner notch and to extend over the outside of said flange beyond said flange bolt holes and to said tab receiving slots;

c. said outer bracket having bolt holes registered with said flange bolt holes;

d. said outer bracket having tabs extending inward through said tab receiving slots in said flange;

e. an inner bracket shaped to fit over a portion of the inside of said leg when said leg is in said corner notch and to extend along the inside of said flange beyond said flange bolt holes and beyond said tab receiving slots;

f. said inner bracket having bolt holes registered with said flange bolt holes and said outer bracket bolt holes;

g. said inner bracket having tab receiving slots registered with said tab receiving slots in said flange;

h. said tabs of said outer bracket extending through said tab receiving slotsof said inner bracket;

' i. a pair of bolts extending through said bolt holes in said outer bracket, said flange, and said inner bracket for drawing said outer bracket and said inner bracket toward respective outer and inner sides of said flange; and

j. said inner bracket being shaped to have a clearance from said inside of said flange in the region of each of said bolts so that tightening said bolts draws said inner and outer brackets, and said leg and said shelf securely together.

2. The shelf corner clamp of claim 1 wherein said bolt holes in said outer bracket are shaped to allow transverse movement of said outer bracket relative to said flange.

3. The shelf corner clamp of claim 2 wherein said outer bracket bolt holes have a larger diameter than said flange bolt holes.

4. The shelf corner clamp of claim 1 wherein said bolt holes in said inner bracket are shaped to allow transverse movement of said inner bracket relative to said flange.

5. The shelf corner clamp of claim 4 wherein said inner bracket bolt holes are oblong in the direction of extension of said inner bracket and said flange.

6. The shelf corner clamp of claim 1 wherein said leg is square in cross-section, said outer bracket is L- shaped, and said inner bracket is W-shaped.

7. The shelf corner clamp of claim 1 wherein the outer edges of said tab receiving slots in said inner bracket are shaped to engage the central regions of said tabs at a distance from said inside of said flange.

8. The shelf corner clamp of claim 1 wherein said tabs on said outer bracket bend inward toward said inner bracket at angles of more than relative to said outer bracket so that tightening of said bolts makes said inner bracket urge said tabs toward said corner notch to draw said outer bracket inward against said leg and said flange.

9. The shelf corner clamp of claim 8 wherein the outer edges of said tab receiving slots in said inner bracket are shaped to engage the central regions of said tabs at a distance from said inside of said flange.

10. The corner shelf clamp of claim 9 wherein said leg is square in cross-section, said outerbracket is L- shaped, said inner bracket is W-shaped, and said bolt holes in said outer bracket and said inner bracket are shaped to allow transverse movement of said outer bracket and said inner bracket relative to said flange. l= 

1. A shelf corner clamp for securing a shelf adjustably to an upright support leg, said shelf having a downward extending flange and said leg being fitted into a notch in said corner of said shelf and said flange and extending above and below said shelf, said shelf corner clamp comprising: a. said flange having a bolt hole and a tab receiving slot on each side of said corner notch, said tab receiving slots being further from said corner notch then said bolt holes; b. an outer bracket shaped to wrap around the outside of said leg when said leg is in said corner notch and to extend over the outside of said flange beyond said flange bolt holes and to said tab receiving slots; c. said outer bracket having bolt holes registered with said flange bolt holes; d. said outer bracket having tabs extending inward through said tab receiving slots in said flange; e. an inner bracket shaped to fit over a portion of the inside of said leg when said leg is in said corner notch and to extend along the inside of said flange beyond said flange bolt holes and beyond said tab receiving slots; f. said inner bracket having bolt holes registered with said flange bolt holes and said outer bracket bolt holes; g. said inner bracket having tab receiving slots registered with said tab receiving slots in said flange; h. said tabs of said outer bracket extending through said tab receiving slots of said inner bracket; i. a pair of bolts extending through said bolt holes in said outer bracket, said flange, and said inner bracket for drawing said outer bracket and said inner bracket toward respective outer and inner sides of said flange; and j. said inner bracket being shaped to have a clearance from said inside of said flange in the region of each of said bolts so that tightening said bolts draws said inner and outer brackets, and said leg and said shelf securely together.
 2. The shelf corner clamp of claim 1 wherein said bolt holes in said outer bracket are shaped to allow transverse movement of said outer bracket relative to said flange.
 3. The shelf corner clamp of claim 2 wheRein said outer bracket bolt holes have a larger diameter than said flange bolt holes.
 4. The shelf corner clamp of claim 1 wherein said bolt holes in said inner bracket are shaped to allow transverse movement of said inner bracket relative to said flange.
 5. The shelf corner clamp of claim 4 wherein said inner bracket bolt holes are oblong in the direction of extension of said inner bracket and said flange.
 6. The shelf corner clamp of claim 1 wherein said leg is square in cross-section, said outer bracket is L-shaped, and said inner bracket is W-shaped.
 7. The shelf corner clamp of claim 1 wherein the outer edges of said tab receiving slots in said inner bracket are shaped to engage the central regions of said tabs at a distance from said inside of said flange.
 8. The shelf corner clamp of claim 1 wherein said tabs on said outer bracket bend inward toward said inner bracket at angles of more than 90* relative to said outer bracket so that tightening of said bolts makes said inner bracket urge said tabs toward said corner notch to draw said outer bracket inward against said leg and said flange.
 9. The shelf corner clamp of claim 8 wherein the outer edges of said tab receiving slots in said inner bracket are shaped to engage the central regions of said tabs at a distance from said inside of said flange.
 10. The corner shelf clamp of claim 9 wherein said leg is square in cross-section, said outer bracket is L-shaped, said inner bracket is W-shaped, and said bolt holes in said outer bracket and said inner bracket are shaped to allow transverse movement of said outer bracket and said inner bracket relative to said flange. 